My New 50 Year-Old Walther P-38

[eastman]

A couple years ago, Cabela's had a lot of post-WWII P-38s and a reasonable number of WWII-era P-38s. I think it was $350 for the WWII and $325 for the post-WWII pistols. The Ft. Worth Cabela's pulled about 10 of the post-WWII P-38/P-1 pistols out of inventory to see if one of them was old enough so I could buy it with my C&R (unfortunately they were all late 60s or early 70s).

[Danjoe]

That is a really cool find!

[Stojanovich]

Wow!  It's great to know that there's some P-38 enthusiasts on-board and it isn't just me here who appreciates the classic Walther pistols.  Like I said, I think CZ and Walther are cut from the same cloth.  Both have made such important, historical contributions to their country's military and to the development of firearms technology it's almost impossible to be a fan of one and not the other.

I ask myself now, what really happened to Walther during the late 1980's?  Where CZ seem to keep chugging along making great firearms that everyone wanted (and many couldn't get), Walther seem to drop off the map for awhile.  Was the rise of Sig-Sauer and Glock the reason?  I gotta think it was partially responsible.  JP Sauer & Sohn had been around even longer than Walther but when they 'merged' business interests with SIG (Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft) during the late 70's/early 80's(?) and came out with the P-series pistols, (I think) Walther suddenly found itself losing a lot of government contracts.  I never even heard of Sig-Sauer until the early 80's, when Browning marketed the P220 for awhile as a 'Browning BDA'.  My first one was a single stack in 9mm with the magazine release at the bottom of the grip - just like a Walther.  I bought a brand new one at a gun show for $340 and didn't really know what I had.  I just knew it looked cool, was made in Germany and would probably be a great shooter.  Boy did I ever get that one right!

I still found myself lusting badly for a Walther P5 and P88, though.  They just seemed unattainable and very few gun shops around me carried them because of their exorbitant prices and unpredictable availability.  I started shooting Sigs exclusively during the late 80's and early 90's and doing better than expected in IPSC and bowling pin matches dominated for years by heavily modified 1911's.  God, I wish I still had the first P220 in .45 ACP I ever bought.  That thing was a laser beam.  It was fun to show-up at a match with a bone-stock unmodified gun, hear the snickers in the background and walk-out at the end with a 2nd of 3rd place trophy and a few extra $$$. 

[Pilot1]

About 11 or 12 years ago Gander Mountain (hate that place) advertised surplus Walther P-1's for $299 with all accessories, and two boxes of 9MM ammo included.  I couldn't pass it up.  While I prefer my 1941 Mauser P-08 Luger to shoot, the P-1 is a good service pistol.  If I were West German police, I would have much preferred the P-1/P-38 over the Walther PP .32ACP that many carried. 

[Stojanovich]

About 11 or 12 years ago Gander Mountain (hate that place) advertised surplus Walther P-1's for $299 with all accessories, and two boxes of 9MM ammo included.  I couldn't pass it up.  While I prefer my 1941 Mauser P-08 Luger to shoot, the P-1 is a good service pistol.  If I were West German police, I would have much preferred the P-1/P-38 over the Walther PP .32ACP that many carried.

When I was there in the mid 70's-early 80's, most of the West Berlin Polizei were carrying either P1's or PP Supers in 9x18 Makarov.  The Zoll (Customs), who we frequently worked with on Wall Patrol, also carried P1's.  It's funny that I never got the opportunity to shoot a Luger while I was there.  The R&G Club usually had a couple for sale but everyone wanted the PPK's and P38's and that's what I usually saw people shooting at the range.  I know there were some Luger collectors on base, though, because I used to see their ads on the company bulletin board.   

[Pilot1]

When I was there in the mid 70's-early 80's, most of the West Berlin Polizei were carrying either P1's or PP Supers in 9x18 Makarov.

Those PP Supers were actually chambered in 9MM Ultra, not 9MM Mak.  Similar concept though.  Nice pistols.

The Zoll (Customs), who we frequently worked with on Wall Patrol, also carried P1's.  It's funny that I never got the opportunity to shoot a Luger while I was there.  The R&G Club usually had a couple for sale but everyone wanted the PPK's and P38's and that's what I usually saw people shooting at the range.  I know there were some Luger collectors on base, though, because I used to see their ads on the company bulletin board.

Neat info!  Thanks!

[DeltaGray]

Stojanovich and Pilot1 in particular, I am seeing and remembering words in your posts.
First of all, my P-38 is marked with year 1941 (with an "AC" as I have mentioned before).  I don't consider myself as a collector--maybe because the P-38 can shoot --but so can my Dan Wesson original revolvers and ...other stuff.   I know how to pronounce "Polizei" and "VW" before post readers say, "What?" --VW is VW (in English).  Oh, I have been to West Germany for duty but was ordered not to go to West Berlin for reasons. 
Stojanovich, I laughed at the snickers about taking stock guns to matches.  One former retired military person said that my shotgun (that he called better than his pretty Remington 1100) kept beating him in trap and skeet.  I let my registered competition trap gun rest and purchased an ugly synthetic stocked 1100 to play his game in club matches (not registered ATA or Olympic trap).  He quit his club membership for some reason.  He make a mistake.  He told me that no bench rest rifle shooter could win the annual Hunter match.  Well, John, I won those two events in one year.  The best two BR guys must have stayed home.
I am having fun on this forum so far. Thanks!  I used to be an introvert before I fell on my head--but I went back to work after three months.  I am blessed and I know it!  My expository prose here was not all focused on P-38's.  Range time and helping people is therapy for me.  I have survived three (3) life threatening things.  I do not wear a sign on my back but women hug me anyway without me telling them my true life stories.  I should not sign my name or my "handle name" before a big net catches me. 

[Stojanovich]

When I was there in the mid 70's-early 80's, most of the West Berlin Polizei were carrying either P1's or PP Supers in 9x18 Makarov.

Those PP Supers were actually chambered in 9MM Ultra, not 9MM Mak.  Similar concept though.  Nice pistols.

The Zoll (Customs), who we frequently worked with on Wall Patrol, also carried P1's.  It's funny that I never got the opportunity to shoot a Luger while I was there.  The R&G Club usually had a couple for sale but everyone wanted the PPK's and P38's and that's what I usually saw people shooting at the range.  I know there were some Luger collectors on base, though, because I used to see their ads on the company bulletin board.

Neat info!  Thanks!

You are correct!   9mm Ultra, not Makarov.  I forgot all about that round.  It never did catch-on very well but it was definitely a step-up from 7.65 and 9mm Kurz.

I liked working with the Zoll guys on patrol.  They'd drive around the Wall with us in their little VW buses and try to keep-up as best as they could.  We would stop every now and then to let them catch-up.  They knew Berlin like the backs of their hands and they always informed us of where the East German construction crews were going to be located so we could stop and talk crap to them.

They also carried at least one Walther MPK with them:



We shared our range with the West Berlin Police and Zoll.  If we were out there at the same time together, they never hesitated to let us shoot their stuff.

[Pilot1]

^^^^^^Very cool!  Thanks!

[Firemanjones]

That's a great pistol. I purchased a P-01 circa 1980 unfired and it shoots wonderfull.

[jwc007]

Those PP Supers were actually chambered in 9MM Ultra, not 9MM Mak.  Similar concept though.  Nice pistols.

And for those who have never seen a PP Super............


The Walther PP Super, chambered in 9x18mm Ultra, which was basicly a slightly elongated .380 ACP (aka 9x17mm).

Now back to the subject of P-38's and P1's! 

[steerclr]

Good to see others appreciate the features on these. Truly ahead of their time in 1938. I have two war relics from the mid 40's.  I believe one was made by Mauser and one by Walther.  The only problem I am aware of is, if the de-cocker fails the pistol will go full auto.  Enjoy yours.

[newtoczs]

Wow, that P38 is beautiful!

[Stojanovich]

Thanks!  I'm looking forward to taking it home tomorrow after the mandatory 7 day waiting period.

The first thing I'm going to do is remove the grips and do a complete field strip on it.  Then, give the barrel/bore a serious cleaning using Ballistoil and a nylon brush.  It smells terrible but I've yet to find a more gentle, effective cleaning agent.  It'll probably take a few swipes to get all the old factory grease out of there.  Otherwise, all it really needs is a good lubing and wipe down before I take it to the range Saturday morning.  I bought it just to be a fun, historic range plinker so I'll only be shooting mild, 115gr FMJ loads thru it.

Yes, the safety/decocker is the first thing I always check on any P38.  If it's OK, it's usually a safe bet.   

[Stojanovich]

Thought I would just clean it up and wait until tomorrow morning to go to the range but...there was no way in heck I could wait!  Cleaning-up 50 years worth of dried up grease in the bore only took a few minutes with some Ballistol and a nylon brush.  I highly recommend it but it sure does stink.  Ran a few dry patches down the barrel after that, CLP'd the slide rails and other essential parts then headed off to shoot it.


10 yards, 50 rounds of Geco 115gr FMJ

I shot exactly 100 rounds of Geco 115gr FMJ with NO malfunctions whatsoever.  Warmed-up with 20 rounds at 5 yards to determine POI, then another 30 at 7 yards to test both magazines.  They worked great.  I obviously lubed all the right parts because the P38 was like butter.

The SA trigger-pull was a lot better than I remembered my previous P38's being.  I guesstimate somewhere right around 4.5-5 lbs. without a trace of creep or over travel.  It was pretty amazing.  While I was taking a five minute break between boxes of ammo, the management at the range asked if they could make a video of me shooting the P38 and if it was OK to use it in one of their upcoming marketing campaigns.

Say what?

Sure, why not.  No pressure at all!  Considering it was the first time in 30+ years since I had shot a P38 and that the entire range staff at HTC was watching while I did it, I thought I did OK.  It sure is a great pistol!  I got two free lane rentals and a 20 percent-off coupon for ammo for signing a consent form.  Win win!